asked；　half　sadly；　half　pettishly。
  〃Come　here！〃
  She　came　and　bent　over　him。　　He　suddenly　raised　his　hands；　and；
  drawing　her　face　down　to　his　own；　kissed　her　forehead。
  〃Give　that　to　HIM；〃　he　whispered；　〃from　ME。〃
  She　turned　and　fled；　happily　for　her　sentiment；　not　hearing　the
  feeble　laugh　that　followed；　as　Dunn；　in　sheer　imbecility；　again
  referred　to　the　extravagant　ludicrousness　of　the　situation。　　〃It
  is　about　the　biggest　thing　in　the　way　of　a　sell　all　round；〃　he
  repeated；　lying　on　his　back；　confidentially　to　the　speck　of
  smoke…obscured　sky　above　him。　　He　pictured　himself　repeating　it；
  not　to　Nellieher　severe　propriety　might　at　last　overlook　the
  fact；　but　would　not　tolerate　the　jokebut　to　her　father！　　It
  would　be　one　of　those　characteristic　Californian　jokes　Father
  Wynn　would　admire。
  To　his　exhaustion　fever　presently　succeeded；　and　he　began　to　grow
  restless。　　The　heat　too　seemed　to　invade　his　retreat；　and　from
  time　to　time　the　little　patch　of　blue　sky　was　totally　obscured　by
  clouds　of　smoke。　　He　amused　himself　with　watching　a　lizard　who
  was　investigating　a　folded　piece　of　paper；　whose　elasticity　gave
  the　little　creature　lively　apprehensions　of　its　vitality。　　At
  last　he　could　stand　the　stillness　of　his　retreat　and　his　supine
  position　no　longer；　and　rolled　himself　out　of　the　bed　of　leaves
  that　Teresa　had　so　carefully　prepared　for　him。　　He　rose　to　his
  feet　stiff　and　sore；　and；　supporting　himself　by　the　nearest　tree；
  moved　a　few　steps　from　the　dead　ashes　of　the　camp…fire。　　The
  movement　frightened　the　lizard；　who　abandoned　the　paper　and　fled。
  With　a　satirical　recollection　of　Brace　and　his　〃ridiculous〃
  discovery　through　the　medium　of　this　animal；　he　stooped　and
  picked　up　the　paper。　　〃Like　as　not；〃　he　said　to　himself；　with
  grim　irony；　〃these　yer　lizards　are　in　the　discovery　business。
  P'r'aps　this　may　lead　to　another　mystery；〃　and　he　began　to　unfold
  the　paper　with　a　smile。　　But　the　smile　ceased　as　his　eye　suddenly
  caught　his　own　name。
  A　dozen　lines　were　written　in　pencil　on　what　seemed　to　be　a　blank
  leaf　originally　torn　from　some　book。　　He　trembled　so　that　he　was
  obliged　to　sit　down　to　read　these　words：
  〃When　you　get　this　keep　away　from　the　woods。　　Dunn　and　another
  man　are　in　deadly　pursuit　of　you　and　your　companion。　　I　overheard
  their　plan　to　surprise　you　in　our　cabin。　　DON'T　GO　THERE；　and　I
  will　delay　them　and　put　them　off　the　scent。　　Don't　mind　me。　　God
  bless　you；　and　if　you　never　see　me　again　think　sometimes　of
  〃TERESA。〃
  His　trembling　ceased；　he　did　not　start；　but　rose　in　an　abstracted
  way；　and　made　a　few　deliberate　steps　in　the　direction　Teresa　had
  gone。　　Even　then　he　was　so　confused　that　he　was　obliged　to　refer
  to　the　paper　again；　but　with　so　little　effect　that　he　could　only
  repeat　the　last　words；　〃think　sometimes　of　Teresa。〃　　He　was
  conscious　that　this　was　not　all；　he　had　a　full　conviction　of
  being　deceived；　and　knew　that　he　held　the　proof　in　his　hand；　but
  he　could　not　formulate　it　beyond　that　sentence。　　〃Teresa〃yes；
  he　would　think　of　her。　　She　would　explain　it。　　And　here　she　was
  returning。
  In　that　brief　interval　her　face　and　manner　had　again　changed。
  Her　face　was　pale　and　quite　breathless。　　She　cast　a　swift　glance
  at　Dunn　and　the　paper　he　mechanically　held　out；　walked　up　to　him；
  and　tore　it　from　his　hand。
  〃Well；〃　she　said　hoarsely；　〃what　are　you　going　to　do　about　it？〃
  He　attempted　to　speak；　but　his　voice　failed　him。　　Even　then　he
  was　conscious　that　if　he　had　spoken　he　would　have　only　repeated；
  〃think　sometimes　of　Teresa。〃　　He　looked　longingly　but　helplessly
  at　the　spot　where　she　had　thrown　the　paper；　as　if　it　had
  contained　his　unuttered　words。
  〃Yes；〃　she　went　on　to　herself；　as　if　he　was　a　mute；　indifferent
  spectator〃yes；　they're　gone。　　That　ends　it　all。　　The　game's
  played　out。　　Well！〃　suddenly　turning　upon　him；　〃now　you　know　it
  all。　　Your　Nellie　WAS　here　with　him；　and　is　with　him　now。　　Do　you
  hear？　　Make　the　most　of　it；　you've　lost　thembut　here　I　am。〃
  〃Yes；〃　he　said　eagerly〃yes；　Teresa。〃
  She　stopped；　stared　at　him；　then　taking　him　by　the　hand　led　him
  like　a　child　back　to　his　couch。　　〃Well；〃　she　said；　in　half…savage
  explanation；　〃I　told　you　the　truth　when　I　said　the　girl　wasn't　at
  the　cabin　last　night；　and　that　I　didn't　know　her。　　What　are　you
  glowerin'　at？　　No！　　I　haven't　lied　to　you；　I　swear　to　God；　except
  in　one　thing。　　Did　you　know　what　that　was？　　To　save　him　I　took
  upon　me　a　shame　I　don't　deserve。　　I　let　you　think　I　was　his
  mistress。　　You　think　so　now；　don't　you？　　Well；　before　God　to…day
  and　He　may　take　me　when　He　likesI'm　no　more　to　him　than　a
  sister！　　I　reckon　your　Nellie　can't　say　as　much。〃
  She　turned　away；　and　with　the　quick；　impatient　stride　of　some
  caged　animal　made　the　narrow　circuit　of　the　opening；　stopping　a
  moment　mechanically　before　the　sick　man；　and　again；　without
  looking　at　him；　continuing　her　monotonous　round。　　The　heat　had
  become　excessive；　but　she　held　her　shawl　with　both　hands　drawn
  tightly　over　her　shoulders。　　Suddenly　a　wood…duck　darted　out　of
  the　covert　blindly　into　the　opening；　struck　against　the　blasted
  trunk；　fell　half　stunned　near　her　feet；　and　then；　recovering；
  fluttered　away。　　She　had　scarcely　completed　another　circuit
  before　the　irruption　was　followed　by　a　whirring　bevy　of　quail；　a
  flight　of　jays；　and　a　sudden　tumult　of　wings　swept　through　the
  wood　like　a　tornado。　　She　turned　inquiringly　to　Dunn；　who　had
  risen　to　his　feet；　but　the　next　moment　she　caught　convulsively　at
  his　wrist；　a　wolf　had　just　dashed　through　the　underbrush　not　a
  dozen　yards　away；　and　on　either　side　of　them　they　could　hear　the
  scamper　and　rustle　of　hurrying　feet　like　the　outburst　of　a　summer
  shower。　　A　cold　wind　arose　from　the　opposite　direction；　as　if　to
  contest　this　wild　exodus；　but　it　was　followed　by　a　blast　of
  sickening　heat。　　Teresa　sank　at　Dunn's　feet　in　an　agony　of　terror。
  〃Don't　let　them　touch　me！〃　she　gasped；　〃keep　them　off！　　Tell　me；
  for　God's　sake；　what　has　happened！〃
  He　laid　his　hand　firmly　on　her　arm；　and　lifted　her　in　his　turn　to
  her　feet　like　a　child。　　In　that　supreme　moment　of　physical
  danger；　his　strength；　reason；　and　manhood　returned　in　their
  plenitude　of　power。　　He　pointed　coolly　to　the　trail　she　had
  quitted；　and　said；
  〃The　Carquinez　Woods　are　on　fire！〃
  CHAPTER　X
  The　nest　of　the　tuneful　Burnhams；　although　in　the　suburbs　of
  Indian　Spring；　was　not　in　ordinary　weather　and　seasons　hidden
  from　the　longing　eyes　of　the　youth　of　that　settlement。　　That
  night；　however；　it　was　veiled　in　the　smoke　that　encompassed　the
  great　highway　leading　to　Excelsior。　　It　is　presumed　that　the
  Burnham　brood　had　long　since　folded　their　wings；　for　there　was　no
  sign　of　life　nor　movement　in　the　house　as　a　rapidly…driven　horse
  and　buggy　pulled　up　before　it。　　Fortunately；　the　paternal　Burnham
  was　an　early　bird；　in　the　habit　of　picking　up　the　first　stirring
  mining　worm；　and　a　resounding　knock　brought　him　half　dressed　to
  the　street　door。　　He　was　startled　at　seeing　Father　Wynn　before
  him；　a　trifle　flushed　and　abstracted。
  〃Ah　ha！　up　betimes；　I　see；　and　ready。　　No　sluggards　hereha；
  ha！〃　he　said　heartily；　slamming　the　door　behind　him；　and　by　a
  series　of　pokes　in　the　ribs　genially　backing　his　host　into　his
  own　sitting…room。　　〃I'm　up；　too；　and　am　here　to　see　Nellie。
  She's　here；　ehof　course？〃　he　added；　darting　a　quick　look　at
  Burnham。
  But　Mr。　Burnham　was　one　of　those　large；　liberal　Western　husbands
  who　classified　his　household　under　the　general　title　of　〃woman
  folk；〃　for　the　integers　of　which　he　was　not　responsible。　　He
  hesitated；　and　then　propounded　over　the　balusters　to　the　upper
  story　the　direct　query
  〃You　don't　happen　to　have　Nellie　Wynn　up　there；　do　ye？〃
  There　was　an　interval　of　inquiry　proceeding　from　half　a　dozen
  reluctant　throats；　more　or　less　cottony　and　muffled；　in　those
  various　degrees　of　grievance　and　mental　distress　which　indicate
  too　early　roused　young　womanhood。　　The　eventual　reply　seemed　to
  be　affirmative；　albeit　accompanied　with　a　suppressed　giggle；　as
  if　the　young　lady　had　just　been　discovered　as　an　answer　to　an
  amusing　conundrum。
  〃All　right；〃　said　Wynn；　with　an　apparent　accession　of　boisterous
  geniality。　　〃Tell　her　I　must　see　her；　and　I've　only　got　a　few
  minutes　to　spare。　　Tell　her　to　slip　on　anything　and　come　down；
  there's　no　one　here　but　myself；　and　I've　shut　the　front　door　on
  Brother　Burnham。　　Ha；　ha！〃　and　suiting　the　action　to　the　word；　he
  actually　bundled　the　admiring　Brother　Burnham　out　on　his　own
  doorstep。　　There　was　a　light　pattering　on　the　staircase；　and
  Nellie　Wynn；　pink　with　sleep；　very　tall；　very　slim；　hastily
  draped　in　a　white　counterpane　with　a　blue　border　and　a　general
  classic　suggestion；　slipped　into　the　parlor。　　At　the　same　moment
  her　father　shut　the　door　behind　her；　placed　one　hand　on　the　knob；
  and　with　the　other　seized　her　wrist。
  〃Where　were　you　yesterday？〃　he　asked。
  Nellie　looked　at　him；　shrugged　her　shoulders；　and　said；　〃Here。〃
  〃You　were　in　the　Carquinez　Woods　with　Low　Dorman；　you　went　there
  in　disguise；　you've　met　him　there　before。　　He　is　your　clandestine
  lover；　you　have　taken　pledges　of　affection　from　him；　you　have〃
  〃Stop！〃　she　said。
  He　stopped。
  〃Did　he　tell　you　this？〃　she　asked；　with　an　expression